New Life Rank Requirements

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This is sixth in a series of posts about the new rank requirements that take effect on January 1, 2016.

Scout | Tenderfoot | Second Class | First Class | Star | Life | Eagle

Exactly how the new requirements are phased in is explained in this PDF document – Notes on Transitioning to the New Requirements.
I found the new requirements in this PDF – 2016 Boy Scout requirements—parallel comparison.

There are three major components of advancing from Star to Eagle – merit badges, service, and positions of responsibility.

I want to reflect on each of these components and suggest some changes. In my review of Star I’ll look at merit badges, in my review of Life I’ll look at positions of responsibility, and in my review of Eagle I’ll look at the service component.

Life Rank Requirement Changes

1. Be active in your troop for at least six months as a Star Scout.

A slight rewording in the new requirement, the “notes” section included in the new requirements (see below) indicate substituted terms for Varsity Scouts, Ventures, and Sea Scouts. Previously: “Be active in your unit (and patrol if you are in one) for at least six months as a Star Scout.”

2. As a Star Scout, demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Tell how you have done your duty to God and how you have lived the Scout Oath and Scout Law in your everyday life.

Rewording of the previous requirement with the addition of the second sentence. Previously: “Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life.”

I’d note here that the “Scout Spirit” requirement for ranks has been used in the past to deny Scouts advancement when, in the opinion of adult volunteers, they fell short. Many times this denial has been capricious at best, and a personal vendetta at worst.  I think it’s a good idea to ask a Scout to tell how they have done their duty to God, but I fear that it also introduces another opportunity to deny them advancement based on a conflicting interpretation or a set of undefined expectations.

3. Earn five more merit badges (so that you have 11 in all), including any three additional badges from the required list for Eagle. You may choose any of the 17 merit badges on the required list for Eagle to fulfill this requirement. See Eagle rank requirement 3 for this list.

Rewording of the previous: “Earn five more merit badges (so that you have 11 in all), including any three more from the required list for Eagle. (See the Eagle Rank Requirements, number 3, for this list.) A Scout may choose any of the 15 required merit badges in the 12 categories to fulfill this requirement“ I offer my reflections on merit badges in my review of Star requirements.

4. While a Star Scout, participate in six hours of service through one or more service projects approved by your Scoutmaster. At least three hours of this service must be conservation-related.

Specifying a three hours of conservation related projects is a welcomed change, but it will become one of those pin heads upon which many angels dance and the source of a lot of arguments. I’d suggest two requirements here, three hours of service, and three hours of conservation work, with definitions for each.

Previously: “While a Star Scout, take part in service project(s) totaling at least six hours of work. These projects must be approved by your Scoutmaster. “

5. While a Star Scout, serve actively in your troop for six months in one or more of the following troop positions of responsibility (or carry out a Scoutmaster approved leadership project to help the troop):

• Boy Scout troop. Patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, senior patrol leader, troop guide, Order of the Arrow troop representative, den chief, scribe, librarian, historian, quartermaster, bugler, junior assistant Scoutmaster, chaplain aide, instructor, webmaster, or outdoor ethics guide.⁴
• Varsity Scout team. Captain, co-captain, program manager, squad leader, team secretary, Order of the Arrow team representative, librarian, historian, quartermaster, chaplain aide, instructor, den chief, webmaster, or outdoor ethics guide.
• Venturing crew/Sea Scout ship. President, vice president, secretary, treasurer, den chief, quartermaster, historian, guide, boatswain, boatswain’s mate, yeoman, purser, storekeeper, webmaster, or outdoor ethics guide.
• Lone Scout. Leadership responsibility in your school, religious organization, club, or elsewhere in your community.

Three changes: Venture patrol leader is removed from the list, the leadership project alternative is now described as Scoutmaster approved rather than assigned, and the addition of an option for lone Scouts.

Previously: “While a Star Scout, serve actively for six months in your unit in one or more of the troop positions of responsibility listed in requirement 5 for Star Scout (or carry out a Scoutmaster-assigned leadership project to help the unit)”

• Boy Scout troop. Patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, senior patrol leader, Venture patrol leader, troop guide, Order of the Arrow troop representative, den chief, scribe, librarian, historian, quartermaster, bugler, junior assistant Scoutmaster, chaplain aide, instructor, troop Webmaster, or Leave No Trace trainer.
• Varsity Scout team. Captain, co-captain, program manager, squad leader, team secretary, Order of the Arrow troop representative, librarian, historian, quartermaster, chaplain aide, instructor, den chief, team Webmaster, or Leave No Trace trainer.
• Venturing crew/ship. President, vice president, secretary, treasurer, den chief, quartermaster, historian, guide, boatswain, boatswain’s mate, yeoman, purser, storekeeper, crew/ship Webmaster, or Leave No Trace trainer.

6.While a Star Scout, use the Teaching EDGE method to teach another Scout (preferably younger than you) the skills from ONE of the following choices, so that he is prepared to pass those requirements to his Scoutmaster’s satisfaction.

(the list of options has changed in the new requirement to reflect the recording of the new requirements.)

a. Tenderfoot 4a and 4b (first aid)
b. Second Class 2b, 2c, and 2d (cooking/tools)
c. Second Class 3a and 3d (navigation)
d. First Class 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d (tools)
e. First Class 4a and 4b (navigation)
f. Second Class 6a and 6b (first aid)
g. First Class 7a and 7b (first aid)
h. Three requirements from one of the required Eagle merit badges, as approved by your Scoutmaster

Previously: “While a Star Scout, use the EDGE method to teach a younger Scout the skills from ONE of the following six choices, so that he is prepared to pass those requirements to his unit leader’s satisfaction.” 

I think that this is a good idea, but it needlessly complicated and confusing. I’d expand it a bit and reword it this way –

While a Star Scout instruct another Scout who has not yet earned First Class the skills associated with at least three requirements towards earning First Class, so that he is prepared to pass those requirements to his Scoutmaster’s satisfaction.

Scouts name____________ Skill Instructed_________________ Scoutmaster’s Approval__________
Scouts name____________ Skill Instructed_________________ Scoutmaster’s Approval__________
Scouts name____________ Skill Instructed_________________ Scoutmaster’s Approval__________

7. While a Star Scout, participate in a Scoutmaster conference.

Slight rewording of the previous – “Take part in a Scoutmaster conference.”

8. Successfully complete your board of review for the Life rank.

Slight rewording of the previous – “Complete your board of review.”

NOTE: For Varsity Scouts working on Boy Scout requirements, replace “troop” with “team” and “Scoutmaster” with “Varsity Scout Coach. For Venturers working on Boy Scout requirements, replace “troop” with “crew” and “Scoutmaster” with “Crew Advisor.” For Sea Scouts working on Boy Scout requirements, replace “troop” with “ship” and “Scoutmaster” with “Skipper.”

• Assistant patrol leader is not an approved position of responsibility for the Star, Life, or Eagle rank.
• If your family does not have Internet access at home AND you do not have ready Internet access at school or another public place or via a mobile device, the Cyber Chip portion of this requirement may be waived by your Scoutmaster in consultation with your parent or guardian.
• If the board of review does not approve the Scout’s advancement, the decision may be appealed in accordance with Guide to Advancement topic 8.0.4.0.

How I would Change Positions of Responsibility

Holding one or more positions of responsibility for a given time is required to advance from First Class to Eagle. The new requirements in almost all the ranks up to First Class now include requirements aimed at developing responsibility and leadership skills (to my mind something that should be expanded and enhanced, but I’ll take what I can get.)

Our aim is offering opportunities to develop responsibility and leadership. How those opportunities are shaped must take into account Scout’s time is much more programmed and fractured than it was twenty or thirty years ago. I’m not judging whether this is a particularly good or bad thing, we can’t change what’s happening to a Scout’s schedule and fighting this is a losing battle.

As it stands a Scout who wants to advance in rank must be elected or appointed to a position of responsibility and serve in that position for a set tenure or period of time.

The clock starts ticking when they are appointed or elected and stops four or six months later and evaluating whether or not the Scout has served adequately is a stumbling block for many of us. Whether the Scout has accomplished much, or (more importantly) developed as a result of holding the position is often an open question.

Frequent contact and clear communication of expectations between the Scout and other youth and adult leadership makes things better, but the complexities of a Scout’s schedule outside the troop makes this complicated if not impossible.

After years of observation and speaking with hundreds of Scouters about the subject I believe I have arrived at a promising method.

Developing responsibility and leadership has to be something more than just measuring tenure. I’d suggest another method of measuring credit towards fulfilling the requirement.

My logic is as follows – break a one month period of tenure into four weeks, or (in my new system) four credits. Suppose actively contributing to a weekly meeting would be worth one half credit, and contributing during a camping trip would be worth one credit per night. If an average troop goes camping for two nights a month and has four meetings that would be a total of four credits a month. Four months of tenure would equal twelve credits, six would equal eighteen credits.

If a Scout is present, actively serving in a position of responsibility, he’s credited. We’d keep track of tenure credits by initialling our approval in the handbook as each was completed. Tracking credits requires frequent contact and discussion with Scouts, and each contact is an  opportunity for actual development.

This all sounds very complicated, but I’d observe evaluating the present requirement often becomes a contentious issue after the time has passed for addressing concerns about it’s fulfillment. The credit system creates more opportunities for actual development through constant contact, consultation, and a shared understanding of expectations between Scouts and Scouters,.

I’d also suggest we define positions of responsibility on an individual basis. I am not a fan of set job descriptions, and I think we could largely do away with them. I’d much rather see the tasks and responsibilities designed by the Scout in consultation with his Scoutmaster.

How well positions of responsibility are understood, applied, and evaluated ultimately hinges on how well the Scouters involved understand and do their work. My suggestions here don’t fix that, but perhaps they’d be a step in the right direction.

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